FOODS OUR BODIES NEED TO STAY HEALTHY

To be healthy and strong our body need a balance of different nutritious foods everyday. At every meal, we should eat something from each of these four food groups

BODY-BUILDING FOODS OR PROTEINS
Proteins are body-building foods. They are necessary for making muscles, brains, and many other part of our bodies grow properly. To grow and be strong, everyone should eat enough protein everyday.
Food high in Protein
Meat
Chicken
Eggs
Fish
Seafood
Milk
Cheese
Soyabeans
Insects

Food with some Protein
Beans
Peas
Lentils
Nuts
Groundnuts(Peanuts)
Dark Green Leafy Vegetable
Cereals(Wheat, Oats, Millet,etc)

ENERGY FOODS OR CARBOHYDRATES SUGAR AND STARCH
Starch and sugar are energy foods. They are like wood for our fires. The harder a person works, the more energy foods he/she needs.
A diet of these foods alone without protein, makes our bodies weak
STARCH
maize(Corn)
Cereals (Wheat, Rice, Oats, Millet Sorghum)
Noodles (Pasta)
Potatoes
Sweet Potatoes
 Yam
Squash
Cassava(Manioc)
Plantain (Cooking Banana)


SUGAR
sugar
Honey
Fruits
Sweet Ripe Banana
Milk.

ENERGY STORAGE FOODS: FAT AND OILS
Fat is a concentrated form of stored energy. Our bodies change fat into sugar when more energy is needed. To eat a lot of fat can be harmful, but eating some fat or oil with each meal is healthy.
Food High In Fat
Cooking Oil (Vegetable Oil is better than Pig Fat)
Slad Oil
Lard
Bacon
Butter
Margarine


Food with some fat
Groundnut(Peanut)
Soyabeans
Coconut
Nuts
Avocado
Milk





FOOD RICH IN VITAMINS AND MINERALS
Vitamins are protective foods. They help our bodies work properly. We become sick if we do not eat food with all the necessary vitamins. Minerals are needed for making healthy blood, bones, and teeth.


Food rich in Vitamins and Minerals
Meat (especially Liver)
Chicken
Eggs
Fish(and Fish Liver Oil for Vitamin A)
Milk
Vegetables(especially Dark Green)
Fruits
Whole Gain Cereals
Sea Weed(for Iodine)